Report: NFL Ignored Warnings From Gov't, Improperly Prescribed Painkillers To Players
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A new report alleges the NFL ignored warnings from the federal government about improperly prescribing painkillers to players.
Hundreds of those players and the widow of a former Raven are suing the league, and their case is now drawing concern from congress.
WJZ Investigative reporter Mike Hellgren has the league's response and how the Ravens play into the controversy.
The NFL has come out fighting against the lawsuit obtained by WJZ, says teams including the Ravens allowed doctors and trainers to abuse painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to keep players on the field.
A new Washington Post report alleges the league brushed off warnings from the drug enforcement agency. Baltimore lawyer Steve Silberman represents the players.
"Now that I can see it in black and white, there is no workplace in America that pumps their employees full of narcotics," says Silberman.
Chuck Evans is among the former Ravens named; he died as an addict. His wife, a plaintiff, alleges he got Vicodin and Percocet from the team without a proper prescription. Eugene Monroe describes Ravens lining up to get injected with the painkiller Toradol to get through games.
"I've taken Vicodin, I've taken Oxycodone. Those pills, they changed who I was during the time that I took them.
One former raven who became addicted to painkillers says he does not blame the league or the team.
"At my worst, I was taking 800 pills a month. My tolerance level was extremely high. So, when I had problems with my neck and my back, what you would take one Vicodin for I needed four Vicodin," says former Raven Ray Lucas.
Jeremy Newberry, who played for San Francisco, says the amount of drugs his team of doctors gave him, cause him kidney failure.
"Some games, I'm taking two or three Vicodin before the game, two or three Vicodin at half-time, I'm taking a shot of Toradol before the game.
The NFL calls the lawsuit 'meritless' and in a new statement to several members of congress, which WJZ also obtained, call its doctors 'world-class' and in full compliance with federal law.
There are 1,800 plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the league.
To read an excerpt from the lawsuit against the NFL CLICK HERE.
To read the letter from the NFL to several members of congress CLICK HERE.
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